Devey and McBurney take the honours By Christopher Walton NORMAN
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MCBURNEY, founder and director of McBurney Transport Group, has been appointed an OBE, while Pall-Ex chief executive Hilary Devey (right) was made a CBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.
McBurney started the Balleymena-based firm in 1965 with just three vehicles, and it has grown to a fleet of 430 tractor units and more than 1,000 trailers, employing 800 staff in six depots across Northern Ireland and Britain.
He will receive the honour for services to .g haulage and the community. McBurney is also T1 the president of Ballymena Football Club, which the haulier has sponsored for 30 years. E He told CM he was "absolutely delighted and greatly honoured" to have been nominated and made an OBE. He added that the honour was recognition not only of his own achievements, but also "the efforts and hard work of his family and valued employees': He continued: "I want to thank all who have sent their best wishes and congratulations." Meanwhile, Hilary Devey, the founder of pallet network Pall-Ex and former dragon on BBC's Dragons' Den, was made a CBE for services to the transport industry and charity in the Queen's birthday honours list. Commenting on the award, Devey paid tribute to the industry and charities she works with.
She said: "It is wonderful to receive such recognition but this should be less about me, and more about the charities that I support and the amazing transport sector in which I am privileged to work."
Devey added: "I dedicate my honour to The Carers Trust, The Stroke Association, and Fresh Start — New Beginnings and the other charities that I have tried to support, as well as to the lorry drivers, forklift truck drivers and everyone else who works in the logistics sector; the unsung heroes of British industry."